Step 1: Make a rough sketch

I bought this Mr. Potato Head at Target for less than 10 bucks!

Sketching helped me get started. But ultimately, I let the the materials that were available to me guide me. I first envisioned my Mr. Potato Head to look more like the sketch in the upper right hand corner.

Step 2: Change Mr. Potato Head's stance

For placement purposes, I drew in some eyes on my potato head. Then, I drew a circle on each side where I wanted my legs to sprout from. I wanted to be mindful of the areas that would be covered up or cut out.

Next, I used a household dremel tool to cut a hole on each side of the body. Then, I attached the two metal pipes to a small plastic beam inside of Mr. Potato Head.

This is a picture of my potato head from the back. The three holes along the middle were part of the original toy design.

Step 3: Be creative with discarded household materials

Collect as many discarded items from around the house. Use your imagination and start working with what you got. Don't worry about miss matching colors and materials. You will be painting over everything later for a cohesive look.

As you can see, I used a soap dispenser for the gun. I used an empty mini plastic shampoo bottle for the cannon, metal piping for the legs, thick card stock to make the wing-tipped shoes, a contact lens case for the eyes, and old cell phone charger wires for detail.

Oh man, I just went through your process photos and I gotta say... I really appreciate your attention to detail. This seems like such a fun project to make. Love your concept sketches, the ingenious use of materials, and the final piece.Great instructable. Sir Spudnik Von Trap looks fantastic!LOVE IT :)

Hey guys and gals! I just posted my 2nd Steampunk Toy tutorial. If you enjoyed the tutorial please, vote for me in the Epilog contest or the Holiday Gift Contest. I would love your support. I could use that Laser cutter to make more art and craft projects for you! Thanks again!

It seems like everyone is converting everthing in to steam punk and frankly I'm getting tired of the whole concept. But this is the coolest steampunk item I have ever seen! Your instructable is also very well written. Thanks alot!

I could stare at a soap dispenser all day (note: but I wouldn't) and not think of the fact that it could be used as toy gun bits. Thank you! That is an invaluable idea! But I still say whatever leftover piping you had for the legs is far superior to any household item I have ever seen in my house. Also you made shaping/smoothing things of Premo look deceptively simple. ;) Excellent work - and I'm sure it was a lot of work!